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Obituaries: Four More Casualties

By VVAW

VVAW lost three long time activists-out friends and fellow fighters

Mike Carrmindy, one of the founders of the Kent State, Ohio, VVAW Chapter, died of cancer this year. He moved to Chicago in the '70's and continued to stay in touch personally and politically. During Washington's first mayoral campaign, Mike was working in Bridgeport. He sat in a bar wearing a "Irish for Washington" T-shirt. After a drink or three someone hit him in the head with a bottle from behind, calling him a "nigger lover." He turned on the stool, looked his assailant in the face and said, "If that's your best shot, you're in trouble." The asshole left. Mike played his cards well—he was blind for 15 more minutes and he'd only guessed where his enemy's face was.

His death appears to be tied to Dioxin poisoning from Agent Orange.

David Stroup, former President of the APWU local and member of VVAW former Lieutenant with the 1st Infantry Division, he won the Distinguished Service Cross. He was proud to have voted for Jackson and producer still that he had gotten some of his "hillbilly" relatives to do the same. Even after he could no longer walk, he returned to the post office and wheeled around the workroom saying, "I always wanted to say this, 'Want to make a dying man real happy?'!!?"

His death from cancer appears to be tied to a dioxin poisoning from Agent Orange.

Wayne Field's execution by the state of Louisiana ended a 10 year involvement by VVAW to have his sentence commuted because of Post Traumatic Stress Disorder.

In 12978, Wayne tried to kill himself. Police became involved in a ricochet hit and killed an officer.

His last statement before execution: "You can kill the messenger, but you can't kill the message [of what the Vietnam war did to its vets]. Someday you will all have to recognize this problem for what it is, not for what you want it to be."

Harold Davis, 66, veteran of World War II Navy and Korean Air Force, died on December 7, 1988 of complications from a kidney transplant.

Harold will be missed. He was one of the oldest active members of VVAW in Milwaukee. Despite living with the pain of diabetes and other complications from a kidney transplant, he was active. He camped on the mall and marched and leafleted with VVAW at Dewey Canyon IV, did outreach at all our activities, helped out at the VA hospital. We saw him at every camp-out at the Otts. His life was immersed in music and art. As a young man he was a vocalist in various bands, and later in life, he was an artist.

Brother Mike, we will remember you for the early work in forming VVAW for your work for Harold in Bridgeport, for a United Ireland and for your friendship.

Brother Dave, you could make even Scrooge laugh, drink us all under the table and appreciate living. You served Vets, the working class and your family well.

Brother Wayne, we should have done more but you kept fighting and educating even from your jail cell.

Their memory lives on in our struggle.